Yami Gautam Clarifies Social Media ‘Like’ Controversy Linked to Kriti Sanon’s Award Win
Mumbai, March 6 (TheTrendingPeople): Actor Yami Gautam has issued a public clarification after social media users claimed she had ‘liked’ an Instagram reel that appeared to criticise fellow actor Kriti Sanon following her recent Best Actress win at the Zee Cine Awards.
Addressing the controversy through a note posted on her social media account, Yami said the interaction with the reel may have happened accidentally and emphasised that she has never engaged in publicity-driven tactics or online negativity against colleagues.
Yami Gautam Responds to Viral Reel Controversy
The debate began after several netizens noticed that Yami’s account had apparently liked a reel that juxtaposed Kriti Sanon celebrating her award with an older interview clip of Yami discussing her views on awards and validation.
The reel quickly gained traction online, leading to speculation that the actress may have been indirectly criticising Kriti’s win.
Responding to the discussion, Yami wrote that she frequently gets tagged in multiple posts and that the ‘like’ was not intentional.
“It has come to my notice that I apparently ‘liked’ a reel that is condescending toward another actor. We get tagged in multiple things every day, and this appeared during an award-function reference like any other tag,” she explained.
The actor added that the action was not deliberate and may have been clicked unintentionally.
Actress Rejects Claims of ‘Cheap PR’
In her statement, Yami also strongly dismissed allegations that she was using the controversy for publicity.
“Never in my life have I resorted to cheap PR tactics. I have always focused on my work and moved on,” she wrote, adding that she does not maintain a PR team and prefers to let her work speak for itself.
Yami also criticised the culture of online speculation and “clickbait” discussions that often amplify minor incidents into broader gossip narratives.
“I would hope people consider that I have earned a better reputation than that,” she said.
Background of the Award Debate
The discussion began shortly after Kriti Sanon reportedly won the Best Actress award at the Zee Cine Awards for her performance in Tere Ishk Mein.
Some social media users argued that Yami Gautam’s performance in the courtroom drama Haq deserved recognition as well.
The reel that triggered the controversy included Kriti celebrating her win alongside an old interview clip in which Yami had stated she no longer seeks validation through awards.
On the professional front, Kriti Sanon was recently seen in Tere Ishk Mein opposite Dhanush and is preparing for filmmaker Homi Adajania’s upcoming project Cocktail 2.
Meanwhile, Yami Gautam was last seen in Haq, which also starred Emraan Hashmi and Sheeba Chaddha.
Industry reports suggest she may also appear in a cameo in filmmaker Aditya Dhar’s upcoming project Dhurandhar 2.
Our Final Thoughts
The episode highlights how quickly online interactions can escalate into public debates in the digital era. While celebrity social media activity often draws scrutiny, Yami Gautam’s clarification suggests the controversy may have stemmed from a simple misunderstanding.
As discussions around award recognition continue to spark fan debates, both actors remain focused on upcoming projects and their respective careers.